Ukraine's former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Tuesday urged the judge preceding over her trial on abuse of office charges not to hurry events to please President Viktor Yanukovych.
Tymoshenko was detained on August 5. She is accused of damaging Ukraine's national interests by signing "disadvantageous" gas supply deals with Russia as prime minister in 2009 and faces up to 10 years in prison.
Tymoshenko said almost daily hearings and the amount of case materials to be examined "deprives us of our right to a defense."
"I insist that you reconsider the schedule of court sessions and not push on it order to please Yanukovych," Tymoshenko added.
In response, Judge Rodion Kireev said that the hearings are being held in complete accordance with national legislation.
The court on Monday satisfied a motion by the prosecutors and summoned Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko to testify as witness in Tymoshenko's case.
Currently Ukraine's leading opposition figure, Tymoshenko has denied all the charges against her, saying they are politically motivated.
